West Belfast Sinn Féin Sinn Féin -- Building an Ireland of Equals

Sinn Féin MLA accuses Minister and Trust of gagging information on health service cuts

Published: 17 December, 2009

West Belfast Sinn Fein MLA Sue Ramsey has asked the Minister for Health what involvement he, his Department or the Belfast Health Trust have in manipulating information about health service cuts.

Ms Ramsey was responding after it was suddenly revealed that a ward in the Royal Maternity Hospital is to close in January 2010, resulting in the loss of 20 beds and redeployment of skilled and experienced staff.

Ms Ramsey said:

"I am appalled by this latest revelation and suspicious about the timing of the announcement.

"The Health Minister, Michael McGimpsey, in an answer on 9th October 2009 to a question I asked in the Assembly, said 'there are no specific plans for ward closures [in the Belfast Health Trust area].'

"In mid-October, as a member of the Assembly Health Committee, I met with William McKee and other members of the Belfast Health Trust. The closure of this maternity ward in January 2010 was not mentioned then.

"Three weeks ago, a Sinn Fein delegation met with William McKee and other Belfast Health Trust officials to assert our demand for the retention of frontline services and the defence of health workers.

"We expressed our deep concern at the Belfast Health Trust's strategy for managing it's budget. At no point in this meeting did William McKee mention that a maternity ward in the Royal Hospital would close in January 2010.

"After now hearing this sudden announcement, I think the public and health service workers want to know who is 'playing poker' with our health service?

Ms Ramsey said the information being shared with public representatives and the public at large is being censored by the Department of Health.

"Sinn Féin has asked why some of the budget management problems revealed by the Belfast Health Trust were splashed across the media before any local MLAs were spoken to. We have also asked why the apparent problems in Belfast Health Trust bank accounts were only revealed this autumn.

"The answer given to me by the Chief Executive of the Belfast Health Trust is that the Minister for Health did not want any of these budget concerns revealed to local public representatives in such stark terms.

"Given this latest surprise announcement of an intention to close maternity beds, we urgently need to know has the Minister or his Department played any part in gagging health officials or public servants from speaking openly about what is going in the health service. The same people need to explain why we are hearing the weekend before Christmas about cuts to maternity beds in the New Year.

"As for the proposal to cut maternity beds, this is just unthinkable.

"Sinn Féin, together with other campaigners, have been demanding, for more than a decade, the commencement of work on the new regional hospital for women and children. We need an increase and enhancement of maternity provision on site at the Royal Hospital, not cuts to existing provision.

''Front line staff are under immense pressure as they battle to deliver services. A strategy for the health service is required which commands public confidence. Instead, there is justified panic among constituents and health service workers. The Minister needs to account for every part his Department and Trusts are playing in this situation."

ENDS

Note for Editor:

AQW 1500/10

Ms S Ramsey (SF - West Belfast) To ask the Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety, with the possibility of further ward closures in the Belfast Health and Social Care Trust, what plans are in place to cope with the pressures of increasing birth rates and seasonal illnesses.

09/10/2009

The Trust's latest contingency proposals are still under consideration and there are no specific plans for ward closures.